Pretzel machine



Feb. 24, 1953 H. G. ALLEN ETAL 2,629,340

PRETZEL MACHINE Filed DEC- 29, 1945 12 Sheets-Sheet l INVENTOR HOWARD G.ALLEN OWEN M. HUDSQN F 1953 H. G. ALLEN ETAL 2,629,340

PRETZEL MACHINE Filed Dec. 29, 1945 12 sheets-sheet 2 2'90 Q96 ATTORNEYFeb. 24, 1953 H. G. ALLEN ETAL 2,529,340

PRETZEL MACHINE Filed Dec. 29, 1945 12 Sheets-Sheet 3 INVENTOR HOWARD G.ALLEN BY .OWEN M. Euosou 2 ATT RNEY Feb. 24, 1953 H. G. ALLEN ETALPRETZEL MACHINE 12 Sheets-Sheet 4 Filed Dec. 29, 1945 INVENTOR HOWARD G.ALLEN BY OWEN M. HUDSON ATTORNEY Feb. 24, 1953 H. G. ALLEN ETAL2,629,340

PRETZEL MACHINE Filed Dec. 29, 1945 12 $heets-$heet 5 lll INVENTORHOWARD G. ALLEN B OWEN M. HUDSON ATTORNEY Feb. 24, 1953 H. G. ALLEN ETAL PRETZEL MACHINE l2 Sheets-Sheet 6 Filed Dec. 29, 1945 lNVENTOR HOWARDG. ALLEN BY OWEN M. HUDSON ATTORNEY NAN 0 7 QQN mam. Q M N O R M H R 5WW & m m 00 m QQN m M H 2 S NwQW 7 .W G M 2 e D N m RE 5 MW m 4 wmw m .IlMN m l lfi l m I Y I l NR B kw mm mm awbm 3N H. G. ALLEN ET AL PRETZELMACHINE NNWMW.

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@Ne u m N? M 3m 1 7 Feb. 24, 1953 Filed Dec 29 1945 Feb. 24, 1953 H. G.ALLE-N ET AL PRETZEL MACHINE l2 Sheets-Sheet 8 Filed Dec. 29, 1945INVENTOR HOWARD G. ALLEN BY OWEN M. HUDSON ATTORNEY Feb. 24, 1953 H. G.ALLEN EI'AL PRETZEL MACHINE Filed Dec. 29, 1945 12 Sheets-Sheet 9 r WKH. G. ALLEN ETAL Q 2,629,340

Feb. 24, 1953 PRETZEL. MACHINE l2 Sheets-Sheet 10 Filed Dec. 29, 1945INVENTOR HOWARD G. ALLEN OWEN M. HUDSON M 9. W

' ATTORNEY hwm Feb. 24, 1953 H, G. ALLEN ET AL PRETZEL MACHINE l2Sheets-Sheet l1 Filed Dec. 29, 1945 INVENTOR HOWARD G; ALLEN BY OWEZ M.HUDSON ATTORNEY Feb. 24, 1953 H. s. ALLEN ETAL 2,629,340

PRETZEL MACHINE Filed Dec. 29, 1945 12 Sheets-Sheet 12 min I INVENTORHOWARD e. ALLEN B owsu M. HUDSON W ATTORNEY Patented Feb. 24, 1953PRETZEL MACHINE Howard G. Allen, Niagara Falls, and Owen M. Hudson,Kenmore, N. Y., assignors to American Machine & Foundry Company, acorporation of New Jersey Application December 29, 1945, SerialNo..638,230

12 Claims.

Thisinventionzrelates to machines for making pretzels, more particularlyto improvements in the pretzel forming or tying mechanism, the mechanismfor delivering the pretzels from the tyingmechanism and the mechanismfor delivering elongated dough sticks .to'the pretzel tying mechanism.

A principal object of the invention is to reduce the number ofworkingparts in a machine of this. character, as compared with prior machinesof this type, to. thereby facilitate and simplify the control of, andmake more positive, the operations of the pretzel stick handling andpretzel forming mechanism.

A further object is to take advantage of its simplified construction andcontrol to enable the machine to be operated at high speed withoutinterference between moving parts and without distortion of the doughsticks during the formation of the pretzel. Moreover by reduction in thenumber of wearing parts misalignment and faulty operation is reduced toa minimum and a steady production of pretzels of high quality anduniform form is assured.

One of the main objects of the invention is to providers machinewithnovel means to eliminate the breakage of the dough sticks whichoccurred with dry dough in pretzel making machines of the type having ahorizontal support provided with stationary projecting elements, such asdome shaped members, or arcuate lips, about which theend' portions of anelongated dough stick were looped and then twisted togetherbefore beingtacked to the main portion of the stick. When a dough stick formed ofvery dry dough is looped about said elements or lips nicks are formed init, as at the corners of the lips, and the stick tends to-break at thesenicks, since the stick is stretched during the formation of the loopsand the twisting thereof together. Moreover, if the stick does notbreak, the sections of the dough stick extendingform the projectingelements to the grippers which loop and twist thestick end portionstogether are excessively stretched and become much thinner than the mainportion of the stick and aremore fragile; Theexcessive stretching'of'theend portions of the stick results, because the portions, of. the dough:stick extending along the lips or elements tend to. stick to the sameand hence are not stretched during. the formation of the loops and theknot.

In our construction the ends of the dough sticks are looped aboutmovablemembers such as rollers which are free to turn while theendportionsof thestickare drawn. aboutthe samewhen the loops are formedand twisted together. Therefore, breakage of the dough sticks will beavoided. Moreover, thestretching of the loops caused during theirformation and twisting will turn the movablemembers or rollers so thatthe sections of the stick which are behind as well as in front of therollers will be elongated. Accordingly the stretching of the sticksmaybe distributed over longer sections thereof. and the loops. soformed. willhave a greater diameter andbe less fragile.

If during the operation. of the pretzel making machine, its normaloperation is interfered with, as by mechanical failure, or loosening ofapart, or by the accidental presence of a foreign body in the machine,any of Which occurrences may act to cause overloading or strain, it isdesirable to-provide means to automatically stop the machine.

Another object of the invention, therefore, is to provide improved andsimple mechanism, to stop the pretzel tying mechanism anddivert thedough. sticks, which, are delivered to the pretzel tying mechanism forformation into pretzels, in the event of such an overload. It has beenfound, for example, that when the pretzel making machine becomes wornthe arms which carry the gripper fingers interfere with each. other andthus cause breakage of various parts of the machine. More specifically,another object of the invention is the provision of means totake care ofoverloads, and for this purpose the pretzel tying mechanism is driven.through an overload release clutch which will. be disengaged toautomatically stop the pretzel tying mechanism when overloading occursand automatically operate a member adapted to deflect the doughsticksbeingdeliverecl to the pretzel tying mechanism.

A further object of the invention is to provide improved mechanism fordepositing the pretzels delivered from the pretzel tying mechanism ineither a single ordouble row upon a traveling conveyor. To this end thepretzels are delivered from an upper grid upon whichthey are. formed toa lower grid which is inverted. to deposit the pretzels upon thetraveling conveyor. For delivery ofa double row of pretzelsontheconveyor thelowergrid moves from a pretzel. receiving positionunderlying the upper grid to delivery positions at either side of thereceiving position. The lower gridis inverted at its. delivery positionsand the pretzels drop on the conveyor to form two rowsofpretzelsthereon.

Since the lower gridstarts turning while it is approaching the deliverypositions, the throw of the. pretzels will vary for various speeds atwhich thetmachine is operated- .The differences in the throw of thepretzels so created are considerable.

A further object is to compensate for this condition and maintain anequal spacing of the pretzel rows on the conveyor, by improved means formaking the lower grid adjustable transversely relatively to its axis toincrease or decrease its turning radius and thus control the throw ofthe pretzels.

Another object is to provide simplified mechduce to a minimum the backlash of the mechanism driving the parts operating the grippers of thepretzel tying mechanism. With the constructions used on prior pretzelmaking machines, the back lash is sufficiently amplified after wearingof the machine to cause interference of the grippers of the pretzeltying mechanism.

Still another obiect of the invention is to provide the pretzel tyingmechanism with an improved construction of the gripper fingers. Formerlythe gripper fingers were shaped to straddle the underlying portions ofthe pretzel to which the loop ends were tacked in order not toindentsaid underlying pretzel portions. However, the former construction ofthe gripper fin ers produced indentations of considerable size in theportions of the loop ends inside the portions tacked to the underlyingpretzel portions, be-

'- cause the gripper fin ers were in different rela tion to the loopends when they moved them into tacking position. Moreover, when themachine was worn. the grip er fin ers would not straddle the underlyingpretzel portions and would indent the same.

, With our improved construction of the gripper fingers their tipsoverlie but do not descend into contact with the portions of the pretzelto which the loop ends are tac ed, and therefore do not indent or marsuch portions.

The lower grid to which the pretzel is delivered .after it is formed'onthe upper grid, is provided with members which engage and thereby locatethe loops of the pretzels dropped thereon in the desired position relatie thereto. Due to different conditions such as the condition of the douh,

variations in pretzel size and variations in the speed of delivery,variations in the position which the pretzel is delivered on the lowergrid do 7 occur. A still further object of the invention is toaccommodate variations in the position of the pretzel on the lower grid.For this purpose conical members which engage the inner sides of theloops. and are adjustable longitudinally and Q transversely of the gridare provided. The lower grid is also provided with an impact 7 member onwhich the knot portion of the pretzel is droppedwhich coacts with theconical members to locate the pretzels dropped on the lower grid andassist in retaining the intended shape of the pretzels. Still anotherobject of the invention is toprovide a novel construction of the impactmember which in combination with the conical members will cause thepretzel to be squared up and spread into the proper shape.

element is provided with an abruptly inclined face The impact on whichthe central portion 01' the pretzel between the tied ends comes to restwhile the conical members form stops for the loops with which saidmembers engage. Thus the pretzel is spread and squared up. Moreover theknot portion of the pretzel engages another inclined face of the impactelement which assures the adhesion of the parts of the knot portion toeach other.

Still another object of the invention is to permit adjustment of theimpact element to compensate for adjustments of the lower grid which areneeded to take care of differences in the throw of the pretzel.

Other objects of the invention are to provide readily demountableconstructions of the pick-up bar and the star wheel; also to circulate ablast of air under the dough sticks in the same, to prevent sticking ofthe dough sticks to the pick-up barand star wheel. By providing suitableopenings in these members, so that a'blast of air may be permitted tocirculate under the bottom portions, that is, those portions of thedough'stick which contact the pick-up bar or star wheel, it is thuspossible to form a skin thereon which will prevent sticking of the doughsticks.

With these and other objects not specifically mentioned in view theinvention consists of certain constructions and combinations which willbe hereinafter fully described and claimed.

In the accompanying drawings which forma part of this specification andin which like characters of reference indicate the same or like parts:

Fig. 1 is a fragmentary plan view of a portion of the machine,illustrating the tying head and related parts; 7

Figs. 2-6 are views illustrating the succession of steps in forming astick of dough into a pretzel;

Fig. '7 is a longitudinal sectional elevation on an enlarged scale ofportions of the tying head, taken approximately on line l1 of Fig. 23;

Fig. 8 is a cross section of the lower grid pretzel transfer plate takenon line 8-8 of Fig. 37;

Fig. 9 is a fragmentary sectional elevation on line 9--9 of Fig. 7 ofthe tyinghead, showing the main operating cam, thepick-up bar, starwheel and operating connections therefor, the parts occupying anintermediate position in a cycle of operation;

Fig. 10 is a fragmentary vertical section on line |9l0ofFig.9;

Fig. 11 is a fragmentary vertical section, on line |l!l of Fig. 9;

Figs. 12-14 are vertical sections, on lines I2l2, |3-l3, and M-Mrespectively of Fig. 9, illustrating parts of the clutch drive for themain cam;

Fig. 15 is a sectional elevation, on line 15-45 of Fig. 9, showing thedrive connections between the main cam and the pick-up bar, the starwheel, the pretzel forming plate and the transfer plate;

Fig. 16 is a sectional elevation of the clutch control means, on lineIii-l6 of Fig. 9;

Fig. 1'7 is'a side elevation of the parts shown in Fig. 16;

Fig. 18 is a fragmentary cross section on line 18-48 of Fig. 15;

Fig. '19 is a vertical section of the tying head on line |9l9 of Fig. 9.

Fig. 20 is a sectional elevation of a clutch for effecting quarter turnsof the star wheel;

Fig. 21 is a sectional elevation of a similar device for controllinghalf turns of certain parts of the tying head;

Fig. 22 is a sectional elevation of a yielding 'aeeasso stopdevi'cefor-controlling the stop" positions of the star wheel;

Fig: 23"is a fragmentary'front elevation-of the tying head, withportions in the rear thereof omitted for clarity;

Fig: 24" is a rearelevation of the upper portion of the tying head,taken approximately on line 24 -24"of"l ig: 7

Fig. '25 is a" crosssectionon line 25-45 of Fig. 24*;

Fig. 26isa similarview on line 26-26 of Fig. 24;

Fig. 27 is a plan view, partly in section, of the pretzel tying orforming plate and associated parts, themovable knife being omitted;

Fig. 28 is a similar view of the transferplate and related parts;

Fig. 29 is a crosssection, on an enlarged scale, on line 29-29 of Fig.27;

FigsBO is a detail of means for stationarily securing the transferplateof Fig. 28 in position for one row delivery of pretzels;

Fig. 31 is a transverse view of mechanism for cutting dough sticks,taken approximately on line 3I--3| of Fig. 23;

Fig. 32 is a fragmentary bottom plan view of parts of the tying head, online 32-32of Fig. 23;

Fig. 33 is a fragmentary sectional elevation, taken: approximately online (id-33 of Fig. 32;

Fig; 34. is a perspective view of a portion of the knifetactuating meansshownin Fig. 31;

Fig. 35 is a sectional elevation thereof on line 35-35 ofFig. 31;

Fig. 36 isa development of the track for the operating cam for effectingtwo row delivery movements of the transfer plate;

Fig. 3'? is an. enlarged plan view of the transfer plate Fig, 38- is avertical section thereof, on line 38-38'0f Fig. 37;

Fig. 39 is a fragmentary vertical section, thereof on line 3939 of Fig.37;

Figs. 40-42 are diagrammatic views illustrating theadjustab-ility of thetransfer plate to meet varying delivery requirements;

Fig. 43 is a reduced plan view'of the delivery of two rows of pretzelsupon a receiving element by the transfer plate Fig. 44 is a lengthwisesection of one form of the pick-up bar, showing one of the dough stickreceiving cavities, taken along 44-44 of Fig. 7;

Fig. 45 isa section thereof, on line 4545 of Fig. 44;

Figs. 46-48. are fragmentary plan. views illustrating the operation. ofoneof the pairs of sticklifting and carrying fingers. in relation to thestick cutting means during a cycle of operation;

Fig. 49. is asection on line 49- 3% of Fig. 48;

Fig. 50 is a fragmentary plan illustrating the fingers as applying anend portion of the stick to a loop of the pretzel;

Fig. 51 illustrates the same feature after the fingers have retractedfrom the pretzel; and

Figs. 52-53 illustrate. portions of a star wheel whose construction isdifferent from that shown elsewhere in the. drawings.

Gobs of dough are delivered from a measuring and cutting machine (notshown) whichmay be of the type illustrated in Weida Patent No.2,342,093,.between a :pair. of opposed endless belts Ill and il whichshape the gob of dough into a long stick. The front or discharge endportions of the belts or aprons I and H, which pass respectively overrolls l3 and I4,.are shown in Figs. 1 land 7.. Adjacent runs of apronsIll and H are .sub'stantiallytparallel, the shaft of. roll 13 and the:

other roll (not shown) supporting belt" loliare carried by a frame l2which is adjusted-by suitable mechanism such as shown in the WeidaPatent No. 2,295,246 to vary the spacing between the adjacent runs ofaprons l0 and H and. thereby produce dough sticks X of the desireddiameter. The shaft of roll it issuitably' supported. in. a sub-frame(not shown) which is carried.- on the main frame M. Frame. M includes apair 'of horizontal side channels. 55 extending longitudinally of themachine and each supporting. a plate !6. A pair of plates H and I8 whosefrontgends are shown in Fig. l are supported from frame l2 and the framesupporting roll M to maintain the opposed runs of belts i9 and I!inoperative relationship. Since the. construction of these plates ll andi3 may-besimilar to that ofthe plates I28 and lz shown in theabove-mentioned Weida Patent No. 2,295,246, further descriptio thereofis deemed unnecessary.

Each stick. X, as it leaves the discharge end of apron H, drops. into.a. pocket or. receivin portion of a rotatable transfer or pick-up; bar Pcarried on the head. This. bar, rotatinga half revolution in each cycleof the machine, discharges the sticks upon a pivoted inclined plate ortrap T, Fig. 7, over which the stick rolls: into one of four radiallydisposed channels of. a star wheel S.

A quarter turn of wheel S discharges each stick X in succession, so thatit comes to rest in asubstantially straight line on the rear portion ofan upper or pretzel forming or tying grid G and upon portions of arelatively stationary table 20 with which the grid is associated. Tyingdevices operate upon the sticks to form them into p-ret zels on the gridG. From there the finished pretzels are discharged upon a lower transferplate or grid L which, in turn drops them upon. anendless belt conveyoror other suitable element Bfor removal of the pretzels from the machineand delivery to a bake oven. All of the foregoing mechanisms forreceiving the sticks X, forming them into pretzels and delivering themas described, are actuated by mechanisms hereinafter described which areoperated icy a main cam member C (Figs. 1, 7 and 9), comprising a seriesof cam tracks or elements grouped together on. a main cam shaft 22rotatably mounted in the tying head H.

The head H (Fig. 23) is an upright framelike structure including anupper hollow transverse horizontal cross piece. 2d, the opposite ends ofwhich are bolted. to the upper ends of left and right hand uprighthousings 25 and 23 which are supported upon the inner ends of plates Hi.The stationary table 2%,. which was previously referred to, extendsbetween and. is rigidly secured to lugs on the inner sides of thehousings 25 and 2t, ata distance below the cross piece, 24. A firm rigidtying head frame is thus provided.

The main cam shaft 22 is driven at a suitable speed for the cams tocontrol actuation of the various mechanisms to effect their movementatthe desired time in each cycle of operation. In the illustratedarrangement the cam shaft 22 is supported by housings or hollow uprights25 and 26 and driven through the rotation of a sprocket wheel 30 (Figs.1 and 9) whose hub is axially aligned with shaft 22 and supported in. abracket 3! extending upwardly from the main frame. Rotation of sprocketwheel 33 is effected by'a sprocket chain 32 extending rearwardly (Fig.l) and driven by a sprocket 3 ifixed to a horizontal jack shaft 35extending transversely underneath the. upper runof belt. l0. Shafti35isby suitable by circumferential grooves in the pins 55.

half turn out of line, or out of time.

s j g connections (not shown) operatively connected to a main shaft orother suitable source of power. Shaft 35 also carries a sprocket 35driving a chain 38 having suitable connections (Fig. 1) for driving therolls [3 and M of aprons Iii and ii.

The driving connection between shaft 22 and sprocketafi, see Figs. 9 and10, comprises a stud 4U projecting sufficiently from the face of thesprocket to extend into the path of and engage with a finger or lug 42extend-ingradially from the outer end of a horizontal driving sleeve Mwhich has an axial bore from which one end of shaft 22 protrudes.

The sleeve 44 has a reduced section journaled in a bearing 46 in theouter wall of housing 26 andrat its inner end it carries a bearing 43for rotatably supporting one end of the shaft 22.

The opposite end of shaft 22 is mounted in a bearing 49 in the innerwall of housing 25, Fig.

9. A washer 55 secured by a clamp nut 5| to the right hand end of theshaft 22 revolves in a seat in the end of the driving sleeve 4i andserves to retain these parts in proper relation. The inner end of thesleeve 54 has an enlargement 52 from the transverse end face of whichproject a pair of diametrically opposite conical ended driving pins 56which are fixed in the sleeve.

The rotation of sprocket 35 in the direction of tharrow, Fig.7,will'cause stud 45 to engage finger 42 and rotate driving sleeve id.To effect rotation of shaft 22 there is keyed to shaft 22 adjacent theinner end of sleeve 42, a driven collar 58 which carries a pair oflongitudinal pins 50 having conical heads which project sui ciently tobe engaged by the pins 58 on sleeve 44.

The pins Bil extend through bores iii in collar '58 and are releasablymaintained in operative position with their conical heads protrudingfrom bores 6| by studs 62, Fig. 13, which are located in transverseholes in the collar and engage with beveled reduced diameter seatsformed The studs 62 are provided with axial bores in which 'springs 63are mounted. The outer ends of springs 63 engage screws 64 threaded intothe collar 58, so that the spring pressure can be ad- 1 arranged closerto the shaft axis than the other pair of pins. This allows drivingengagement of pins 55, es in only one position of the collar 58 withrespect to the driving sieeve 44 while the latter is driven through itslug 22 from sprocket 30. This prevents operation of parts on the tyinghead from being effected while the collar 53 is a The foregoingarrangementrwill provide continuous rotation of. cam C and shaft 22.Should an abnormal condition arise, such as jamming of driven parts oroverload, pins (55 will be shifted endwise to the left against theholding action of studs 62, thus releasing the driving connectionbetween pins 56 and 65. This will cause shaft 22 to come to rest eventhough sprocket 35 continues to rotate.

It is also necessary to provide some manually actuated means for suchdisengagement of pins 56, I50 which may comprise (see Figs. 9, 16 and17), a shift collar 68 slidable and rotatable on shaft 22 at the leftofdriven sleeve 58. An annular groove is in this collar admits shiftstuds or rollers H of conventional construction carried 1 by a yoke 12which is provided with a hand lever Yoke 12 is pivoted on a shaft 14supported in the ends of arms 15 projecting from the adjacent upright26. Shift collar 68 has a disk portion 18, Figs. 9 and 14, which engagesa groove 19 in the adjacent end of each pin 60. The disk 18 issubstantially circular, except for a straight or flat section which isadapted to enter the groove 79 of the pin to which is nearest to theshaft axis. Under operating conditions there would be a tendency forthis pin 65. to bind following any slight relative movement. This isovercome by a pair of pins 82, Figs. 13 and 14, which project from theend of sleeve 58 and bear on the flat section 86 at ither side of pin 60and act to take up thrust in either direction under driving conditions.

There is also provided a device for operatively connecting the deflectorplate T to the shift lever T3 so that the plate T would be automaticallyshifted to divert sticks from the star wheel S in case something goeswrong, for example, if, the gripper fingers should fail to seize thepreviously delivered sticks properly. For this purpose an arm 82extending laterally from the hub of yoke '52 loosely receives in anaperture at its free end, the upper end of a link 8 (Figs. 16 and 17)..The lower end of the link passes loosely through a hole in an arm 85secured to one end of the hub of plate T which. is pivotally supportedfrom housings 25 and 25. is threaded on link 82- vbelow arm 85 and actsto engage and lift arm 85 when thelever 13 is either shifted to the leftby hand or when sleeve 68 is displaced axially in the same direction byan overload.

A hand lever 88 extending forwardly and upwardly from the hub of arm 85can be actuated independently of lever 3 to move plate T, when lever 13is at its operative position (to the right in Fig. 9) without shiftingthe latter. If lever i3 is in its released position (to the left in Fig.9) the plate T will be at inoperative position and manual displacementof lever 88 to return plate T to its operative position will also returnlever 73, shift collar 58 and pins 65 to driving position, through link8 Shifting lever 13 to the right under similar conditions merely causeslink 86 to be lowered whence it would move through hole in arm 85without shifting plate T. Lever 88, however, could then be moved toreturn plate T to operative position if desired.

Accordingly if lever 28 is manually displaced to the dotted positionshown in Fig. '7 the dough sticks are diverted by plate T and deliveredto a chute A down which they roll on to a conveyor C1. The sticks thusdiverted are returned by conveyor 01 to a position at which they may bepicked up and inserted in the dough measuring machine.

Pick-up bar and star wheel This bar is generally of the same form shownin Weida Patent No. 2,295,246, and extends across the belts iii and I iand is provided with two deep pockets having arched or raised centralportions shown in Fig. 44 to cause the center portion of the stick to bedisposed ahead of its ends when A suitable nut or block 85 9 secured onthe inner end of a stub shaft 95 forming a pivot for one end of thepickup bar. This pivot is rotatable-in a bearing. sleeve 96 mounted inthe inner wall of upright 25, and the hub. 9d can be turned or adjustedrelatively to said pivot to position the harm apredete'rmined positionand the hub 94 .then can besecured on said pivot by tightening screws98. .The :left. hand tongue 92 is fastened to the bar by a screw 93 andis secured to a hub 91 in which the pivot 99 for the other end of thepick-up bar is secured. The pivot 99 is journaled in a bearing I'flfl inthe housing 25. Intermittent one-half revolutions of the pick-up bar Pare produced in .a manner which will now be described. A portion of thebody 52 of drive sleeve .44 is turned down to an eccentric IOIIa, seeFigs. 9 and 11, which is embraced by an eccentric strap IIII. .O'n strap'IilI is an arm'Iil2 extending downwardly within the interior of housing26 and .pivotally connected at its lower end to an arm I04 of .agearsector IE pivoted on a stud IBIS secured in the inner face of themnorWall of housing 26. This sector meshes with a .gearpinion I08 turning onthe bearing sleeve 95 ofpivot "95.

The gear IE8 is looselymounted on sleeve 96 and carries a clutch devicewhoseconstruction is shown in Fig. 21, forgiving the pick-up bar itsone-half revolution turns. This device includes a hub I'I Ilfixedonshaft 515 and surrounded by a split cam sleeve consisting of two camsections IlIla which project from one end face of gear 1-08 and areeccentric to the axis of shaft 95. A pin I I Dbismountedin alignedradial holes of hub I I0 and shaft 95 and pressed by compression springIIUc against the inner face of one of the camsections IIIIa. Thus, whilethe gear I08 rotates in one direction orthe other upon oscillation. ofsector I05, the bar P will turn only in one .directionas one or theother of the-inner ends of the two cam sections I .Ifla bears againstthe side of the spring pressed pin I IiIb while the gear I08turns in aclockwise direction (Fig. 21). When gear I08 turns in the oppositedirection the cam sections IIIIa slide over the end of the pin I I02)and the pick-up bar remains stationary.

Locating meansis provided at the other end of the pick-up bar to-releasably hold thebar in each half turn position. A spring presseddetentorball I H (Fig. 19) is mounted in a socket IIZd of a sleeve I I2which surrounds hub 97. Sleeve H2 is held against. housing 25 by clampsII3 .whichare retained by screws II-ia. The ball III may snap into oneorthe other of diametrically opposed recesses II4Iin hub 91, see Fig.9.Upon loosening clamp screws I.I3a (Fig. 19),.the sleeve II2 can :beturned to properly locate the stopping. point of the pick-up bar. Thedetent for the star wheel S is shown on Fig. 9 directly below thepick-up bar locating means just described. It will be noted that allintermittently rotated parts, suchas :the pick-up bar, the star wheeland the upper and lower grids are provided with clutch devices forturning thema fraction of a rotation and detents or locating means forholding them stationaryafter they have been turned the requiredfractional turn. Fig. 22 shows in detail the quarter turn. detent forthe star wheel S, and the clutch for turning the. same a quarter turn isshown in Fig. 20. The detent for star wheel S consists of a sleeve II'c'a sur rounding ahub IIIIfastened on shaft H8 .journaled in housing25. Sleeve IIBa is clamped to housing .25. and provided with a socketH61) in which is mounted a spring. pressedball H60 10 adapted to engageone of four equally spaced recesses lied in the hub H6. The constructionof the clutch for turning shaft H8 will be hereinafter described.

Referring back to the mounting means for the pick-up bar, it will benoted that advantage may be taken of the arrangement shown to dismountthe bar from the machine merely by loosening the two screws 53. Thiswill allow the bar to be slid edgewise off the tongues '92. A somewhatsimilar mounting is used for the star wheel S, see Fig. 9. The oppositeends of the four radial arms H5 of the bar are received in crossed slotsin hubs IIfi, II? at left and right, respectively. Hub II6 is releasablyheld by the spring detent in any one of four positions, as previouslyexplained. The other hub III is secured on a pivot shaft I26 turning ina bearing in the housing 25. This pivot I26 is releasably held inposition by a split or spring ring I22, engaging in an annular groove inthe .pivot shaft and contacting a flange of the bearing in the housing.There is sufficient space from the ring I22 to the adjacent face of hubI" so that upon removing ring I22 the pivot shaft I29 and the attachedhub Hi can be shifted to the right to disengage it from the adjoiningend of the star wheel S. The star wheel itself can now be shifted bodilyto the right to detach it from the other hub I I5 and by pulling itslightly out of line, it can be removed.

Mechanism for driving the star wheel S is best seen in Figs. 9, 15 and18. This mechanism is arranged in the housing 25 and includes a cam diskI25 fastened to the end of camshaft 22, and having a cam track 12:6which engages a cam roller I28. This roller is pivoted on a cam leverI29 (not shown in Fig. 9) fulcrumed on a stud I35) carried by a bracketI3I. The lower end of lever I29 is pivotally connected to one end of atransverse link I32 whose otherend is pivoted at I34 to a gear sectorI35. Sector I35 is mounted to oscillate on a bearing on a stud I36secured in the wall of housing 25 (Fig. 18). Sector I35 meshes with andturns a gear IE6 to and fro. Gear MEI is rotatable on pivot shaft II 8of the star wheel and it carries the clutch device shown in Fig. 20.This clutch includes a hub Hi2 clamped on shaft III) and having a radialhole in which a spring pressed pin I42a is mounted toengage the innerface of the cam sections I43 which project from one end face of gearI45. The cam sections I43 are eccentric with respect to the axis ofshaft HE. and when pin I IZa engages the inner end of one cam sectionhi3 while gear Iii? turns in a clockwise direction (Fig. 20) the shaft II8 is turned a fourth of one revolution. When gear I Ill turns in theopposite direction, shaft H8 remains stationary. The clutch is ar-rangedwith respect to gear N10 to shift star wheel in the. proper directionand at correct time to deliver the sticks upon upper grid G as needed.The hub portion on is split so that it can be turned and clamped topivot shaft H8 to cause thestar wheel S to come to rest in correctpositions.

As seen in Fig. 15, gear I43 meshes with an idler m4 pivoted on a platem5 fixed in the interior of housing 25. a gear I46 which is providedwith a "clutch I41 similar to that shown in Fig. 121 and arranged on theshaft I48 of the upper grid G, to givethe latter one-half revolutionturns in a clockwise direction with a horizontal position of rest, shownin Fig. 27. Similar movements, alterhating with those of grid G, aregiven to lower grid This gear. I dd meshes with shaft I58 of cam I56.

7 and is clamped thereon by nut I12.

taining the lower grid L in its half revolution position is indicatedgenerally at I55, Figs. 11 and 28. The construction of said meanssubstantially duplicates the half turn control described for the pick-upbar P.

The lower grid L, as will hereinafter be explained, may operate about afixed axis for delivering one row of pretzels, or it may be adjusted soas to be shiftable alternately from one to another of two positions toeffect two row delivery of pretzels. For this purpose there is provideda grid shift barrel cam I56 (Fig. 28) which is clamped on shaft I58journaled in housing 25 and driven from cam shaft 22. Shaft 22 has fixedthereon, adjacent cam disk I25, a sprocket wheel I60, Figs. 9 and 15.Sprocket I68 drives a chain I62 running over a sprocket gear I63, thehub of which is mounted on stub shaft I64 .(Fig. 18) and has formedthereon a smaller sprocket I65. The latter through chain I68 drivesanother sprocket I68 which is fixed on The sprocket chain drivedescribed is so designed that for each revolution of cam shaft 22 a halfrevolution of the lower cam shaft I58 is effected, thereby actuating camI56 to shift the lower grid L from its receiving position for two rowdelivery which will be described later in detail. It should be notedthat the cam I55 is not keyed on shaft I58 but is releasably clampedagainst a friction washer 238 interposed between one end of the cam anda collar 24I fixed on the shaft I58, by a lock nut 239 on the outer endof shaft I58. Index lines 240 on collar 24I and the cam body assist inpositioning the cam properly when setting up the machine.

As shown in Figs. 15 and 18, take-up means are provided for the sprocketand chain drive. The stub shaft I64 for the combined sprockets I63 andI65 is mounted in a longitudinally adjustable yoke I10 whose oppositeends are slotted. The left hand slotted end of the yoke straddles thescrew stud I36 which carries the sector I35 The other slotted end of theyoke is clamped by a screw I14 against an inner face of the housing 25.Thus the sprockets I63, I65 can be shifted to tighten chains I62, I66relative to shafts 22 and I58 without disturbing other parts of themechanism.

Upper grid Grid G includes a relatively thin plate I80 (Figs. 23 and 27)having extensions I82 projecting forwardly-and rearwardly at oppositesides of the axis of shaft I48. Parts I82 each have arcuate ledges I83,preferably adjustably mounted .and extending in'spaced relation to afixed marginal projection I84 and providing a space to receive thecentral portions of the sticks. Adjustment of ledges I83 may be made toaccommodate sticks of varying diameters. The opposed pairs of parts I83and I84 are on opposite sleeves the shafts 14s and MM are held in bearings I88 on the stationary table 20.

The table 20 includes front and rear parallel bars or portions I80, I92respectively (Figs. '7 and 27) the opposite ends of which are connectedto opposite lateral extensions I94 of the table. The bar I02 has a rearupstanding rib I96 provided on its inner face with a ledge I97 7 inwhich is formed a shallow trough I88 for receiving the dough stick. Thisledge is cut away along its central portion to provide a space throughwhich the adjacent parts I82 of the plate G may move. The space betweenthe ledge I91 and the projections I84 on parts I82, which admits thecentral portions of the dough sticks, is aligned with the trough I08when either of the parts I82 enters the space provided in ledge I91.

Rollers 200 which have grooved peripheries, are arranged in pairs atequal distances from and at opposite sides of the front to rear axis ofthe plate I80. The upper roller of each pair has its base aligned withthe upper face of plate I80,

each roller having an axial screw or pivot 200w passing through it intoa wedge-shaped carrier or block 20I to support the rollers for freerotation on the fiat, angularly related faces of those blocks (Fig. 29).on a pin 28Ia located at the inner side of holes 202 in the plate I80,and one or the other of two spaced ledges on the ends of the blocksremote from the pins 20m rest on shoulders formed on plate I at theunderlying side of the holes. In this position the rollers, which are atthat time above the plate rest in a horizontal position as shown. Thother 0r lower roller of each pair will then extend in angular relationto the top roller and to the plate at the under side thereof. It will benoted that the diameter of the rollers at the top portion of the rollersis less than the bottom diameter, thus giving assurance of free releaseof' pretzels when the rollers are at the lower side of the plate asindicated in Fig. 29. A greatly improved result gained by the use of thefreely rotatable rollers 200 is that the stick, as it is drawn aroundthe rollers by mechanism hereinafter described in forming loops, isprevented from being excessively stretched or weakened; since tension orfriction, such as occurred on the fixed cones of earlier constructions,is greatly reduced, so that the dough in these areas remains of uniformdiameter, density and texture. It should be noted that while the ends ofthe stick are being looped around rollers 200 the midsection thereof ismaintained in a predetermined position by the ledge I 83.

wheel S on the ledges I81 of table 20 with its central portion on plateI80, it must be cut to the desired length before being engaged by thegripper fingers. For this purpose there is mounted at each end of table20, beyond the ends of bar I92, a ledger plate or stationary knife 204(Figs. 23, 27 and 31). Each knife 204 is formed of an angle bar whosehorizontal fiange is adjustably secured to the top face of table 28 toenable knife 204 to be adjusted with respect to a movable knife which isnot shown in Fig. 27. The upright fiange of each knife 204 is providedwith an arcuate seat 205 (Fig. 31) in which rests the end of the doughstick protruding. from trough I98.

The relatively short end portions of the stick pro- Each block 20I isfreely pivoted spectc l3 tension, and it is "found that this "causes acleaner cut'to be made without sticking of the severed end to themovable knife.

The movable knives 268 are right and left hand, and each is formed. of aflat steel strip which is sharpened at one end and bent to extendparallel with the cutting flange of knife 264. Each knife 268 isadjustably fastened to the front face of a casting 2m (Figs. 23, 34 and35). Each casting has spaced depending lugs 2 II which straddle a plate2I2 fixed to the top of table 20 and are pivotally mounted on a pinsupported by plate 2I2. In end elevation, piece 2I6 resembles abell-crank in one arm of which is located the pivot 2%. At the otherextremity of one of the pieces 2I0 is a lug 2I5 to which the lower endof an actuating arm 2I6 is pivotally connected (Figs. '31 and 35). Thisrod or arm 2I6 extends upwardly and rearwardly alongside of the innerface of housing 25 and is yieldingly mounted, as shown in Fig. 19, forendwise movement to rock casting 216 about pivot 2I4 and thereby obtainthe cutting action of knife 208. For this purpose, the upper part of rod2 I6 passes through a sleeve 226 fixed to the inner side of housing 25.On the portion of rod 2I6 within sleeve 226 is secured a collar 22Iwhich engages a coil spring 222 seated on the bottom of sleeve 22!].Spring 222 thereby presses a roller 223 pivoted at the upper end of rod2I6 against a cam 224, see Fig. 19. This cam is fixed to cam shaft 22 toturn therewith and has an abrupt step 225 operable to swing casting 2msuddenly about pivot 2I4 in a direction to carry knife 268 alongsideknife 264 to sever the dough stick cleanly at the proper time. To effectsimultaneous and like movement of both knives 268 the castings areconnected by a link 236 to the upper ends of rocker arms 232 which arefixed at their lower ends to a rocker shaft 234 extending across thefrontof the tying head. The front bar I86 of table 26 is of invertedU-shape for receiving and forming a protective hood for rocker shaft 234(Figs. '7 and 27).

When the upper grid G is inverted, after the ends of the pretzel stickhave been looped and twisted together and tacked to the main portion ofstick by mechanism hereinafter described, the pretzel so formed isdeposited on the lower grid r pretzel transfer plate. During theinversion of grid G the blocks 26I will swing toward each other toassure the release of the pretzel from rollers 20!].

Lower grid One of the important features of the invention is that whilethe machine is intended to normally operate to deliver two rows ofpretzels upon belt B or other receivingelement, the machine may beconverted to one row delivery in a few minutes without taking off oradding any mechanism or parts.

Since in Figs. 7, 28, 40, and 41 the machine is shown as set for two rowdelivery, this arrangement will be first described.

Grid L carries at opposite ends thereof trunnions 245 which arerotatable in bearings 2% in opposite lugs 241 (Fig. '7) extendingdownwardly from opposite side members 246 and 249 of a rectangular frame256. This frame is mounted for forward movement, Fig. 28, in ahorizontal plane. The left hand side member 248 of frame 256 has achannel .252 on its bottom which guides an adjustable slide or block.253. To the bottom face of the latter are ,pivotally connected by pins254 the free ends of a pair of parallel levers 256. Levers 256 arefu'lcrumed on studs 251 which pass through abottom plate 258 (Figs. 23and281) and through the hubs of the levers into bosses 259 dependingfrom the adjacent end portion I194 of table 26 (Figs. 23 and 27). One ofthe levers 256 has an arm 26!] extending from its hub to form a bellcrank. Arm 266 carries a roller or cam follower 26I which engages in thecam track 262 of cam I56. A development of this track is shown in Fig.36 and will be later described.

Extending between the left hand trunnion 245 of the grid L and the griddrive shaft I54 is a shaft section 264 which is connected to the same byuniversal joints. The right hand side member 249 of frame 250 has alateral projection 265 provided with a stud carrying a roller 266. Thisroller serves to support the adjoining end of frame 255 by engagementbetween the lower face 268 of the table 26 and an opposed face 269'of atrack bar 216 fastened to a transverse rib on said table 20 (Figs. 28and 30).

The slide block 253'may be held in any selected relation to frame 256 toallow the frame to shift as a unit with the slide, by an adjusting screw212 which is threaded into the front end of the block and supported by asplit clamp block 214 carried on a clamp screw 215 threaded into thefront end of the side member 248. The block 214 may be tightened to gripthe screw 212 by rotation of the clamp screw 215. Upon loosening screw215 the adjusting screw 212 may be turned to advance or retract theframe 250 relatively to the block 253. Since the block 253 alwaysremains in the same relation to levers 256 during this adjustment, it isevident that manipulation of screw 212 will displace frame 256 and thusthe grid L journaled thereon will also be shifted. In this way thelongitudinal axis of the lower grid may be adjusted at various distancesfrom a vertical plane through the axis of the upper grid shaft I48.

Referring to the development of cam I56 in Fig. 36, it will be seenthere are two pretzel pickup positions 286 on cam track 262, oneapproximately on the center line and another away. The grid G willdeliver a twisted pretzel to grid L while the cam roller 26! is at eachof the pickup positions 286 of track 262. Between these pick-uppositions there are two positions 28I and 282 ontrack 262 correspondingto the'rear and forward positions of the grid L. The grid L is shown atits rear position in Fig. 28 and infull lines in Fig.7. The forwardposition is represented in dotted lines in Fig. 7. Thus, the frame andgrid will be shifted from its .rear position (Fig. 28), when the camroller 26I moves from position 28I in track 262 to the position280,"into its pick-up position where a pretzel will be dumped from gridG upon grid L. The latter will then move to its forward position whencam roller 26I reaches position 282, and upon making a half turn itdrops the pretzel upon belt B. The frame and overturned grid will nowreturn to pick-up position to receive another pretzel when cam roller26I reaches the other point 280 of track 262, and will then proceed tothe rear while the cam roller 26l moves to position 28I of track 262. Atthe rear position the grid L will again turn over and deposit anotherpretzel on the belt. Thus pretzels are arranged on conveyorB in themanner shown in Fig. 43 in two rows in staggered relationship.

Referring now to the specific construction of the lower grid (Figs.37-39) it wi11 be found th t the trunnions 245 are secured toitheoppositeends of a'thinnarrow 'supportings'trip 285. On each 15 faceofthis strip is adjustably mounted a grid section or plate member 285whose exposed surfaces are recessed or channeled to afford minimumcontact between the sections and the pretzels. On the longitudinal axisof strip 285, near each end, a screw stud 288 is secured to project fromboth sides for passage through slots 289 extending fore and aft in thesections 286. Nuts on the studs 288 serve to clamp the sections 285 tothe strip 285. Under normal conditions the two sections will register orbe in alignment one over the other, as shown in Figs. 8 and 28.Rearwardly of the longitudinal axis of each section 286 and equidistantfrom the transverse axis there is mounted a pair of upwardly projectingcones or pegs 29%. The cones are adjustably positioned on sections 285so that the loops of the pretzels will drop down around the cones for10- eating the pretzel in desired relation to the grid. 7

Owing to different conditions of dough, pretzel size and speed ofdelivery, slight differences in the position of the pretzels on the griddo occur. In order to accommodate such variations,

each cone 29!] is secured to a section 285 by a screw 292 passingupwardly through a longitudinal slot 293 in the section into a threadedhole in the cone base, see Fig. 39. This hole is eccentricto the axis ofthe cone. By sliding the cones along slots 293 or turning them on theirscrews, or both, a very close adjustment of the cones on the sectionsfor meeting any normal or usual requirements is thus available. Inaddition each grid section 285 has adjustably secured, centrallythereof, a block or projection 234 having intersecting inclined topfaces 295 and 295a shown in Figs. 8 and 37. These elements act as impactmembers against or upon the upper face 295 of which the knot of apretzel engages as it drops under the lower grid. It should be notedthat the impact is sufficient to effect good adhesion of the knotportions. Moreover the top face section 295a of block 294 (Fig. 8),which has a steep inclination, engages the portion of the pretzelintermediate the sections of the pretzel to which the pretzel ends aretacked. Since the cones 295 engage the inner sides of the loop portionsof'the pretzel, 'it will be induced to square up and spread into propershape as the portion of the pretzel overlying face 295a tends to slidedown face 295a.

' .Each part 254 is mounted for fore and aft adjustments, having alongitudina1 channel fitting over a guide rib 295 on the grid section towhich it is secured. A screw 29'! is threaded in each block 294 andengages a groove in the guide rib to secure the block in the adjustedposition. It is intended that the cones 250 and blocks 294 should act tominimize contact of pretzels with the grid plates or sections. Thus theloops should fall around and rest on the conical face of cones 290,rather than slide down these cones to their bases, while the knotportion of the pretzel rests on face 295. In the foregoing descriptionit has been assumed that the grid sections 286 are mounted directly overor in register with each other along their front and rear edges.However, upon releasing the nuts on the screw studs 288, these platesections can be shifted to various extents and arrangements within thelimits of slots 289. The full use of these adjustments will be describedlater.

For two row delivery of thepretzels the lower end of a screw 3M (Figs.23 and 30), which is threaded in a hole in the right hand extension V494 of thetable and is locked by a nut 302, is

16 out of contact with extension 265 of lower grid L so that the lattercan freely oscillate. When change to one row delivery i desired, the nut239 which holds the cam I56 on its shaft is loosened'and the frame 250is shifted to bring grid L to its central or pretzel receiving positionwith respect to grid G. Frame 250 is then looked in its adjustedposition by loosening nut 302 and,

turning screw 300 down to bear firmly o th extension 255 of frame 250and then tightening nut 302. Thus, while the driving mechanism for thecam I56 continues to operate, its action will have no effect on theloosened cam I55. Grid L will therefore remain stationary and turn abouta stationary axis receiving the pretzels from grid G and delivering themall in the same path on the belt B below. It should be clear that whengrid L and frame 250 are thus shifted from the rear position shown inFig. 28 to the central or pickup position, the parallel levers 255 andlink 264 will swing to right about their pivots. Thus the extension 265of frame 250 will enter the track formed between members 258 and 269 andcome to rest under the screw 300 at the position shown in dotted linesin Fig. 28 and in full lines in Fig. 30. When returning to two-rowdelivery, the screw 30!) is disengaged from extension 265 and locked inits freed position. The cam I56 is reset in correct position byregistering the index lines 245 as previously stated.

The construction and operating connections of the lower grid L nowhaving been described in general, a more specific and detailedexplanation of the advantages gained by this arrangement will follow,reference being directed particularly to Fig. 37 and Figs. 40-42.Assuming that a normal or medium speed of production of pretzels on thismachine may be, say fifty per minute, the distance E in Fig. 40 mayrepresent the offset of the longitudinal axis 283a of the lower gridwith respect to the longitudinal axis MBa of the upper grid G to enablethe pretzels to be properly received on grid L from grid G. It will beobserved that when the upper grid G revolves the pretzel will be droppedthrough an arcuate path on lower grid L. Now if the delivery speed isreduced to, say forty per minute, the distance E must be reducedsomewhat, since at that slower speed the pretzel path from grid G togrid L will be less arcuate. In other words the trajectory will beflatter. This is, of course, due to the fact that the machine settingwill cause a slower rotation of grid G. If, however, it is desired toincrease delivery to a maximum speed of, say sixty per minute, distanceE must be increased correspondingly. Under any of the above conditionsor any intermediate adjustments, the pretzels will fall well withintheedges of belt B when the machine is set for one row delivery. Theforegoing changes in the position of the axis 28011 with respect to axis48m are made by adjustment of the frame 259 relatively to the block 253,as previously explained.

Due to the limitations resulting from the short time available in asingle cycle of the machine it is impossible to effect rotation of thelower grid traveling and rotation of the grid near the ends of itsmovements to these positions. Added to this is the fact that, as shownin Fig. 41,there is a difference in the throw of the pretzel at the

